Xavier

Xavier meaning

Xavier is an international and Christian boy's name of Basque origin.

From Javier (Basque Xabier) in Navarre, usually explained as Basque etxe berri, "new house"

Also used to mean: bright

Xavier is the surname of St Francis Xavier, the sixteenth-century Jesuit missionary, taken from his birthplace, the castle of Javier, Basque Xabier, in the kingdom of Navarre. The place name is usually explained as Basque etxe berri, 'new house', the same words behind the surname Etxeberria, though one Basque scholar proposed 'field of broom' instead. Francis Xavier preached in Goa and along India's coasts, and his body lies in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, so the name is used by Catholic families in Goa, Mangalore, Kerala and Mumbai. Baby-name lists give 'new house'. It is said ZAY-vee-er or ex-ZAY-vee-er.

Source: Wikipedia, Xavier (given name) · entry Xavier · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Wikipedia, Xavier (given name) · Wikipedia, Castle of Xavier · Wikipedia, Basilica of Bom Jesus · Lexilogos, Xavier (etymology note)

Famous namesakes

• St Francis Xavier, Jesuit missionary to India

Popularity abroad

• #108 United States, boys 2025 (down 6 from 102 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #263 England and Wales, boys 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Xavier · Xavi · Javier · Xabier

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